Gilding - Double- or triple-deep gold leaf?

[MyriamV]

I want to learn gilding with real gold leaf, but I don't know exactly which gold I should get. Double-deep or triple-deep? I'm not concerned by the price difference. I have some experience with imitation metals, but real gold is going to be a first. I already have some Kolner Miniatum Ink, and I want to get some Instacoll and its activator as well for raised work.

Since I'm new to this, which depth should I go for on the real gold? Double or triple?

If you have any suggestions as to other supplies I should look into for this endeavor, or tutorials I should learn from, I'm open to suggestions!

Myriam

[GregB]

Jerry Tresser has a lot of gilding advice and supplies.
https://www.jtresser.com/

[Erica McPhee]

I second Greg’s suggestion. Jerry is the go to gentleman for gilding. Also, search “gilding” from the home page. There are a ton of posts answering all kinds of questions. You may find some good info there. I took a gilding class from Valarie Weilmeunster and it was outstanding. As of yet, I do not know of any online ones but I will keep my eyes open. 

[D B Holtz]

I took the gilding class at the IAMPETH conference in Denver, and got the single and double gold leaf so I could try both.  I like both of them, and can't really recommend one over the other; I suspect I would have the same reaction to working with double and triple thickness.  I would, though, highly recommend the Transfer/Patent sheets and not the loose sheets.  Many people in the class had trouble with the loose sheets- the slightest bit of air circulation blew them out of control.

Harvest Crittenden has an _excellent_ video on gilding at her website:

https://acornartsclasses.org/videos/

Her video was almost as good as the day-long class.

DB

[Erica McPhee]

What a great resource DB! Thanks for sharing! 

[MyriamV]

@GregB
Thank you. I'll make sure to check out his site.

@Erica McPhee
Thank you! I can't afford yet to take in-person classes that are out of town (hotels are so expensive!) so online is pretty much the only place I can learn. Maybe one day I can make enough with my art to afford an in-person class somewhere. That would be awesome!

@D B Holtz
When you worked with the single and double leafs, did you notice having to re-apply more with one vs the other in order to fill in missed spots?
Thank you for pointing me to Harvest's website. I remember watching some videos she made a few years ago and learning tons from them. I'll check it out again, she might have added new stuff since.

[D B Holtz]

The single and double seemed to work the same for me; I didn't have any trouble with either.  The paper backing made it easy to put the leaf smoothly and exactly where I needed it.

DB

[MyriamV]

@D B Holtz
Ok, thank you. I've ordered the triple deep with the thought that if it's thicker it'll probably be easier to burnish to a shine.